ViSTORE

Abstract

ViSTORE is a video teleconferencing system used with networked devices and is capable of storing all or parts of video conferencing sessions on demand that can be played back at a later time. The system consists of a web portal, where all multimedia data is stored, and a software application hosted in the networked devices. The networked devices can be any wired or wireless devices such as laptops and smart phones. The system is capable of hosting multiple videoconferencing parties and each user is capable of storing any part of a given user video session. The system also can play concurrently video feeds, such as a live TV channel, or video clips, such as those of news websites. In addition, the system can display simultaneously multimedia such as photos and images. Finally, the system allows user to create and display notes and MS Office applications files.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method to establish videoconferencing sessions in a videoconferencing system from a network device, comprising: displaying a human machine interface (HMI) on said network device, wherein the HMI displays contact information for one or more videoconference users, wherein said contact information is not otherwise associated with said network device; receiving user input to the HMI, wherein the user input specifies one or more videoconferencing users to establish one or more videoconferencing sessions in the videoconferencing system; receiving further user input to the HMI during the videoconference, wherein the further user input consists of one or more commands thereby enabling one or more functions to modify the operation of said videoconference sessions in the videoconferencing system; wherein the one or more commands comprise a command for storing data in a central web portal; wherein the one or more commands further comprise a command for retrieving data from said central web portal. 
     
     
       2. The method in  claim 1  wherein storing data further comprises storing said videoconference sessions in said central web portal. 
     
     
       3. The method in  claim 1  wherein retrieving data further comprises retrieval of said videoconference sessions from said central web portal for playing concurrently with the live videoconferencing sessions in said network device. 
     
     
       4. The method in  claim 1  further comprising the playing of media content from a website concurrently with the live videoconferencing sessions, using embedded browser functions and an embedded plug-in, the media content further disseminated to other videoconference users by the content request user. 
     
     
       5. The method in  claim 4  wherein storing data further comprises storing said media content from said website in said central web portal. 
     
     
       6. The method in  claim 4  wherein retrieving data further comprises retrieving media content from said central web portal for playing concurrently with the live videoconferencing sessions in said network device. 
     
     
       7. The method in  claim 1  further comprising downloading and displaying of multimedia data, including photographs and images, concurrently with the videoconferencing sessions. 
     
     
       8. The method in  claim 7  wherein storing data further comprises storing said multimedia data in said central web portal. 
     
     
       9. The method in  claim 7  wherein retrieving data further comprises retrieving said multimedia data from said central web portal for playing concurrently with the videoconferencing sessions in said network device. 
     
     
       10. The method in  claim 1  further comprising the creation and displaying of notes in a virtual notepad concurrently with the live videoconferencing sessions. 
     
     
       11. The method in  claim 10  wherein storing data further comprises storing said notes from said virtual notepad in said central web portal. 
     
     
       12. The method in  claim 10  wherein retrieving data further comprises retrieving said notes from said central web portal for playing concurrently with the live videoconferencing sessions in said network device. 
     
     
       13. The method in  claim 1  further comprising the creation and displaying of Microsoft Office documents concurrently with the live videoconferencing sessions. 
     
     
       14. The method in  claim 13  wherein storing data further comprises storing said Microsoft Office documents in said central web portal. 
     
     
       15. The method in  claim 13  wherein retrieving data further comprises retrieving said Microsoft Office documents from said central web portal for playing concurrently with the live videoconferencing sessions in said network device. 
     
     
       16. The method in  claim 1  further comprising the playing of TV feeds from a website concurrently with the videoconferencing sessions, using embedded browser functions and an embedded plug-in, the TV feeds further disseminated to other videoconference users by the content request user. 
     
     
       17. The method in  claim 16  wherein storing data further comprises storing said TV feeds from said website in said central web portal. 
     
     
       18. The method in  claim 16  wherein retrieving data further comprises retrieving said TV feeds from said central web portal for playing concurrently with the videoconferencing sessions in said network device. 
     
     
       19. A non-transitory computer-usable medium embodying computer program code, the computer program code comprising computer executable instructions to establish video conferencing sessions in a video conferencing system wherein the instructions are executed by processing logic to; display a human machine interface (HMI) on said network device, wherein the HMI displays contact information for one or more videoconference users, wherein said contact information is not otherwise associated with said network device; receive user input to the HMI, wherein the user input specifies one or more videoconferencing users to establish one or more videoconferencing sessions in the videoconferencing system; receive further user input to the HMI during the videoconference, wherein the further user input consists of one or more commands thereby enabling one or more functions to modify the operation of said videoconference sessions in the videoconferencing system; wherein the one or more commands comprise a command for storing data in a central web portal; wherein the one or more commands further comprise a command for retrieving data from said central web portal. 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer-usable medium in  claim 19  wherein storing data further comprises storing videoconferencing sessions in said central web portal. 
     
     
       21. The non-transitory computer-usable medium in  claim 19  wherein retrieving data further comprises retrieving videoconferencing sessions from said central web portal for playing concurrently with the live videoconferencing sessions. 
     
     
       22. The non-transitory computer-usable medium in  claim 19  further comprising the playing of media content from a website concurrently with the videoconferencing sessions, using embedded browser functions and an embedded plug-in, the media content further disseminated to other videoconference users by the content request user. 
     
     
       23. The non-transitory computer-usable medium in  claim 22  wherein storing data further comprises the storing said media content from said website in said central web portal. 
     
     
       24. The non-transitory computer-usable medium in  claim 22  wherein retrieving data further comprises retrieval of said media content from said central web portal for playing concurrently with the videoconferencing sessions in said network device. 
     
     
       25. The non-transitory computer-usable medium in  claim 19  further comprising downloading and displaying of multimedia data, including photographs and images, concurrently with the videoconferencing sessions. 
     
     
       26. The non-transitory computer-usable medium in  claim 25  wherein storing data further comprises storing said multimedia data in said central web portal. 
     
     
       27. The non-transitory computer-usable medium in  claim 25  wherein retrieving data further comprises retrieving said multimedia data from said central web portal for playing concurrently with the videoconferencing sessions in said network device. 
     
     
       28. The non-transitory computer-usable medium in  claim 19  further comprising the creation and displaying of notes in a virtual notepad concurrently with the live videoconferencing sessions. 
     
     
       29. The non-transitory computer-usable medium in  claim 28  wherein storing data further comprises storing said notes from said virtual notepad in said central web portal. 
     
     
       30. The non-transitory computer-usable medium in  claim 28  wherein retrieving data further comprises retrieving said notes from said central web portal for playing concurrently with the videoconferencing sessions in said network device. 
     
     
       31. The non-transitory computer-usable medium in  claim 19  further comprising the creation and displaying of Microsoft Office documents concurrently with the videoconferencing sessions. 
     
     
       32. The non-transitory computer-usable medium in  claim 31  wherein storing data further comprises storing said Microsoft Office documents in said central web portal. 
     
     
       33. The non-transitory computer-usable medium in  claim 31  wherein retrieving data further comprises retrieving said Microsoft Office documents from said central web portal for playing concurrently with the videoconferencing sessions in said network device. 
     
     
       34. The non-transitory computer-usable medium in  claim 19  further comprising the playing of TV feeds from a website concurrently with the videoconferencing sessions, using embedded browser functions and an embedded plug-in, the TV feed content further disseminated to other videoconference users by the content request user. 
     
     
       35. The non-transitory computer-usable medium in  claim 34  wherein storing data further comprises storing said TV feeds from said website in said central web portal. 
     
     
       36. The non-transitory computer-usable medium in  claim 34  wherein retrieving data further comprises retrieving said TV feeds from said central web portal for playing concurrently with the videoconferencing sessions in said network device.